Evolution by Jeannie van Rompaey Page B

that?’
    ‘I told you the other day that my friend’s cousins have been evicted, seemingly to make room for the mutant humanoids. As a student of politics it is vital for me to see for myself what’s going on.’
    He shakes his head. ‘Michael, you can’t take on the problems of the whole world. You’re becoming too involved in such matters.’
    I shrug. ‘That’s just how I am. I can’t help but be involved.’
    ‘Did you talk to any of the mutants?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Did you recognise any of them?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Was there anyway that they could recognise you?’
    ‘No. Why do you ask me that? These humanoids are from C1. There is no way they could know me.’
    ‘I’m just trying to get the bottom of why you were arrested.’
    ‘I don’t know why.’
    ‘Stella thinks the reason you were there was because you were trying to make contact with the mutants, that you regret becoming a complete and coming to Oasis to live with us. Is that true?’
    ‘Stella. What does she know?’
    ‘She told me she had lunch with you the other day and that you said some pretty outlandish things that led her to think that you’re not completely happy here.’
    ‘She’s nuts.’
    Father faces me. His face is stern. ‘Michael, Stella is concerned about you. We both are. You must realise that any contact you have with mutants is likely to be perceived as suspicious. You must not return to that district. I forbid it.’
    I can’t believe he said that. ‘You forbid it?’
    ‘I do. You must never go near the Project again.’
    ‘You can’t forbid me to do anything.’
    ‘Actually I can.’
    I feel my temper rising and turn away to finish packing my rucksack to take to Hos-sat.
    I have no reason to go to the Project again now Lizzy is not there, but it sticks in my throat that Father thinks he can tell me what to do.
    ‘Michael, I have no wish to play the heavy-handed father, but in this matter you must obey me. For all our sakes.’
    If I wanted to communicate with mutants on my own behalf it wouldn’t be with those poor creatures in the Project. It would be with Kali and Isis and Odysseus, humanoids I already know and respect. The fact that I have resisted contacting them all this time shows how much I respect my father. But now he has shown how little he respects me.
    We kind of make it up before I leave, but I’m still seething inside.
    He gives me the Hos-sat code for the teleporter and he and Stella stand smiling together at the front door and wish me well with the operation.
    If they knew that the real purpose of my visit to Hos-sat is not to have a vasectomy but to make contact with a mutant humanoid they would not look so smug.
Journal Entry
    I call into uni on my way to the teleporter as planned, read through the essay, make a few alterations and send it off to the Prof.
    I put my head round the divider that separates Jonathan’s workspace from mine and tell him I’ll be away for a few days. ‘I have to go to Hos-sat.’
    ‘You’re not ill, man?’ His usual relaxed manner has changed to concern.
    ‘No, just visiting a friend. Someone from the satellite I was on before.’
    I don’t mention what happened yesterday. I’ve never told Jonathan about my past. It wouldn’t be wise. I do tell him about Father banning me from visiting the Project and how angry I feel.
    ‘Typical,’ says Jonathan. ‘Fathers think they own us and can tell us what to do. Usual teenage versus parent stuff.’
    Is it? I didn’t know that. Makes me feel a bit better.
    ‘It’s not as if I want to go the Project anymore. Lizzy has left.’
    ‘Good for her. Has she got a job?’
    ‘Not as far as I know. I think the whole family have been evicted.’
    ‘That’s bad news, man.’
    ‘When I come back I’ll go the Re-hab Centre and ask a few questions.’
    ‘They won’t tell you anything. More likely to drag you inside and brainwash you as well.’
    ‘Ha, ha,’ I say grinning, before realising the implications of what